Delta State captured a third straight AIAW national women's basketball title under Margaret Wade, completing an unprecedented three-peat.
On March 27, 1977, Margaret Wade's Delta State University Lady Statesmen completed an unprecedented feat in women's collegiate basketball: a third consecutive AIAW Division I national championship, cementing a three-peat that remains one of the most remarkable coaching achievements in the sport's history.
This third title, following championships in 1975 and 1976, established Delta State as the preeminent program in women's college basketball and firmly secured Wade's legacy as one of the sport's greatest coaches. The sustained excellence over three seasons, culminating in this final championship of the run, demonstrated Wade's exceptional ability to recruit, develop, and motivate elite student-athletes year after year.
The achievement was particularly notable given the relatively limited resources afforded to women's athletics programs during this era, even as Title IX began reshaping the landscape. Wade accomplished this dynasty using a comparatively modest athletic budget, relying instead on superior coaching acumen, player development, and an unwavering competitive culture.
This three-peat directly led to the creation of the Wade Trophy shortly thereafter, an annual award named in her honor recognizing the outstanding NCAA Division I women's basketball player of the year. The trophy stands as a permanent testament to the standard of excellence Wade established during this historic run, ensuring her name remains connected to women's basketball's most outstanding individual talents each season.